Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party) | Hansard source

Last night on level two in the parliament, there were two vastly different events. One was held in the Channel 9 studios, and it was a celebration of the Sydney Morning Herald's 195 years of publication. The Prime Minister gave a very good speech—he did. The Leader of the Opposition gave a far better one.

Indeed, about a few hundred metres along the corridors, something vastly different took place. It was the consideration in detail. As long as I've been here, ministers have turned up to the Federation Chamber to answer questions from both the government and the opposition. These are questions that people across Australia need to know the answers to: questions about the budget. And it's no wonder that ministers were absent from those discussions.

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